Kai Black Checks Out Iowa Football Again
Urbandale Pass Catcher Attends Hawkeye Junior Day
Kai Black visited Iowa Football three times last year, including stops for a pair of games at Kinnick Stadium. The Urbandale junior tight end/receiver spoke with the coaches then and at other times.
For Sunday’s Hawkeye junior day visit, he wanted to hear from his peers. He received that opportunity, and it highlighted the stop.
“I think I most enjoyed the (Hawkeye) player panel. The guys were insightful and really painted a good picture of what it’s like as a player and student at Iowa,” Black told HF.
Black (6-4, 210) relished the day on campus with loved ones.
“I enjoyed getting the chance to visit with my family. None of us had gotten to spend that much time there before, so it was good to be on the same page with all the coaches as a collective group,” he said.
Iowa offered Black a scholarship back in June. Iowa State, Miami (OH), Minnesota, Kansas, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin also have reportedly offered him.
“The biggest thing from the coaches in regards to my fit for Iowa is that they value my character as much as or even more than being a good football player. We didn’t talk about schemes and gameplay when I went up there,” he said.
In addition to Hawkeye players answering questions for Black, the coaches also took on his inquiries.
“One thing that I asked was the benefit of coming up early as opposed to finishing senior year. I feel like they got that answered very well and gave me the information and advice that I need to make that decision,” he said.
There’s not doubt the visit impacted Black.
“After getting to spend time in Iowa City, I’d put the Hawks up near the top of the list. I love the program and the people, and I see potential in a future there,” he said.
Minnesota will play host to Black this coming weekend.
“Outside of that, it’s up in the air,” he said of what’s next in the recruiting process.
Rivals ranks Black as a three-star prospect. The service sees him as the No. 26 tight end nationally in ’23 and the sixth best player in Iowa for the cycle.
Black led Urbandale in receptions (54), receiving yards (888) and receiving touchdowns (10) in ’21. He also threw a 54-yard touchdown on his only pass of the season. The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association named him a second-team all-state performer in Class 5A.